MLB Picks, Best Bets, Props, Predictions Today – July 23

There are 15 games on the MLB slate for Wednesday, July 23, but bettors have no time to waste as 9 of those games start before 4:00 p.m. ET.

The numerous day games mean we are treated to action throughout the day, but it also means we have to dig right into these picks.

So, without further ado, continue reading as today’s MLB best bets are below.

MLB Best Bets Today

The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our MLB betting staff is targeting from today’s slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.

Game	Time (ET)	Pick
[teammatchup link=”#1″ firstfullname=”Cincinnati Reds” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cincinnati-reds.png” secondfullname=”Washington Nationals” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-washington-nationals.png”][/teammatchup]	12:05 p.m.	Nick Lodolo Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-105)
[teammatchup link=”#2″ firstfullname=”Los Angeles Angels” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png” secondfullname=”New York Mets” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-new-york-mets.png”][/teammatchup]	1:10 p.m.	Sean Manaea Strikeouts
[teammatchup link=”#3″ firstfullname=”Kansas City Royals” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-kansas-city-royals.png” secondfullname=”Chicago Cubs” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png”][/teammatchup]	2:20 p.m.	First 5 Innings Over/Under
[teammatchup link=”#4″ firstfullname=”New York Yankees” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/nyyd.png” secondfullname=”Toronto Blue Jays” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/tor.png”][/teammatchup]	7:07 p.m.	Over/Under
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our MLB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game.

[anchor name=”1″][/anchor]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Will Priester’s Reds vs Nationals Best Bet: Back Lodolo”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Nick Lodolo Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-105)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cincinnati-reds.png” awayname=”Cincinnati Reds” awayslug=”cincinnati-reds” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-washington-nationals.png” homename=”Washington Nationals” homeslug=”washington-nationals” date=”Wednesday, July 23″ time=”12:05 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”DraftKings ” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/477013_DraftKings@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”draftkings”][/gameheader]

By Will Priester

Washington has been a pesky team this season, but against left-handed pitchers, there are more strikeouts available. Nick Lodolo has progressively ramped up his strikeout rate this season, and over the past 30 days, he’s sitting at 25.6%. He should have his pick of the litter against the middle of the order, and I think he has enough stuff to get us the six we need against this lineup.

Pick: Nick Lodolo Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-105)

[teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Cincinnati Reds” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cincinnati-reds.png” secondfullname=”Washington Nationals” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-washington-nationals.png”][/teammatchup]

[teammatchup link=”#2″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Los Angeles Angels” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png” secondfullname=”New York Mets” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-new-york-mets.png”][/teammatchup]

[teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Kansas City Royals” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-kansas-city-royals.png” secondfullname=”Chicago Cubs” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png”][/teammatchup]

[teammatchup link=”#4″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”New York Yankees” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/nyyd.png” secondfullname=”Toronto Blue Jays” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/tor.png”][/teammatchup]

[anchor name=”2″][/anchor]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Will Priester’s Angels vs Mets Best Bet: Strong Matchup for Manaea”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Sean Manaea Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-118)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png” awayname=”Los Angeles Angels” awayslug=”los-angeles-angels” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-new-york-mets.png” homename=”New York Mets” homeslug=”new-york-mets” date=”Wednesday, July 23″ time=”1:10 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”BetMGM” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/779359_BetMGM800x200@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”betmgm”][/gameheader]

By Will Priester

I like Sean Manaea to pick up at least six strikeouts today. Since coming back from injury, he has been mowing teams down. He also should be picking up more pitches with each start, which is very encouraging for today, as he faces a free-swinging Angels team. Manaea’s strikeout rate (in a limited sample size) is through the roof at a whopping 41%. That won’t last, but he should have as many opportunities as any pitcher on today’s slate to rack up the strikeouts.

Pick: Sean Manaea Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-118)

[quickslipbasic bookname=”DraftKings” booklogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/128508_Primary1.png” image=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-23-at-6.40.44%E2%80%AFAM.png” buttontext=”Parlay These Picks Instantly!” buttonlink=”https://www.scoresandodds.com/all/parlay?quickslip=1&slipAdd=fb0a15e8-3556-45a6-9a95-f291b691d3a6&ref=10001″][/quickslipbasic]

[anchor name=”3″][/anchor]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Nick Galaida’s Royals vs Cubs Best Bet: Conditions Favor Hitters”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”First 5 Innings Over 5.5 (-115)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-kansas-city-royals.png” awayname=”Kansas City Royals” awayslug=”kansas-city-royals” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png” homename=”Chicago Cubs” homeslug=”chicago-cubs” date=”Wednesday, July 23″ time=”2:20 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”bet365″ bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/859377_Bet365@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”bet365″][/gameheader]

By Nick Galaida

The weather appears to be great for hitters today at Wrigley Field, with winds forecasted to be blowing out at 11 mph to left field and the temperature around 90 degrees at first pitch.

On the bump today, Seth Lugo and Colin Rea are both prone to fly balls. Lugo has allowed a staggering 16.2% barrel rate and a 47.1% hard-hit rate during the past month. He draws a tough matchup against a Chicago lineup that leads all of baseball in fly ball percentage against right-handed pitching over the past 14 days.

Both right-handed and left-handed batters have put the ball in the air for more than 60% of their balls in play against Rea this season. The last time Rea pitched at home with similar weather conditions, he allowed seven earned runs and four home runs against the Mariners.

We should see both of these offenses have success early if they are able to get the ball in the air.

Pick: First 5 Innings Over 5.5 (-115)

[anchor name=”4″][/anchor]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Bet Labs’ Yankees vs Blue Jays Best Bet: System Suggests Under”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Under 8.5 (-115)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/nyyd.png” awayname=”New York Yankees” awayslug=”new-york-yankees” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/tor.png” homename=”Toronto Blue Jays” homeslug=”toronto-blue-jays” date=”Wednesday, July 23″ time=”7:07 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”FanDuel” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/122955_FanDuelSportsBook@1x.jpg” bookreviewslug=”fanduel”][/gameheader]

By Bet Labs

This system targets unders in regular-season MLB games in which softer home starting pitchers (pitchers with low strikeout rates and moderate WHIPs) are on the mound in games three or four of a series.

By this point in the series, hitters have seen multiple arms and scouting reports are sharper, yet scoring remains muted when the matchup lacks overpowering velocity and the winds remain neutral (or nonexistent as this game will be played in a dome). The setup avoids exaggerated run environments by filtering out strong directional wind influence, which keeps offensive surges in check. With the home team in the middle of the season grind and winning at a modest clip, the market may overlook how often these quiet conditions lead to slower-paced, low-scoring outcomes.

Overall, this system has produced a 14% ROI as it is 478-325-39 and has cashed 60% of its lifetime picks. This season, it is 32-18-2 (64%), good for a 22% ROI.

[betlabsembed systemid=”1479176″ systemname=”Evan Abrams / Bet Labs – Unders with Soft Starters and Neutral Winds” leaguename=”mlb” filters=”%7B%22list%22%3A%5B%22the%20home%20team’s%20game%20number%20is%20between%2037%20and%20169%22%2C%22the%20home%20team’s%20win%20percentage%20is%20between%2036%25%20and%2065%25%22%2C%22the%20series%20game%20%23%20is%20between%203%20and%204%22%2C%22the%20home%20pitcher’s%20strikeout%20rate%20is%20between%200.2%20and%200.53%22%2C%22the%20home%20team’s%20starting%20pitcher’s%20WHIP%20is%20between%201.15%20and%202.05%22%2C%22the%20average%20wind%20speed%20is%20between%200%20and%2015%20mph%22%2C%22the%20wind%20direction%20is%20From%20Right%20or%20Left%20to%20Right%20or%20Right%20To%20Left%20or%20In%20or%20From%20Left%20or%20None%20or%20Left%20To%20Right%22%2C%22betting%20on%20the%20Under%22%5D%7D” amountwon=”$12,158″ record=”478-325-39″ winpct=”60%”][/betlabsembed]

Pick: Under 8.5 (-115)

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